Walks like Rain

Autistic Austin

"Liam," I whispered, shaking his body to wake him up. "We have to get up."

"Nooo" he groaned in his morning voice.

"It's 11:45 we have to get up she's coming at 12! I live twenty minutes away!"

With that said, he jolted awake. "Get in the car." He said huskily, slipping his shirt over his head and gliding it down his body. He grabbed his keys and we ran to the car.

"We're gonna be late! I'm gonna make her miss her flight!"

"Relax." He said as he pulled out if the drive way and we sped off.

"Liam slow down.....stop......don't run that red light....you're going to get us killed...Liam!"

He chuckled lightly at my pity attempts to make him slow down. "See? We're here."

"You just turned a twenty minute drive into a five minute drive and almost killed us!"

"I got us here before she arrived, didn't I?"

I laughed and shoved him inside my door as I ran to go get pants on. I grabbed some extra pillows and blankets and laid them out on the bed in the guest room for Austin and tried to clean up a bit. Then I heard the vehicle pull into my drive way.

"Aunt Leigh! Hello!" I called from my open front door. She smiled and waved at me as she retrieved Austin's things from the trunk. "Liam, get down here!"

"Bayleigh! I haven't seen you in so long!"

I smiled at her. "This is Liam."

"Pleasure to meet you, Leigh." He held out his hand for Auntie to shake and she took it. I never thought Liam could be such a gentleman. "I can see where Bay gets the other half of her name from." He laughed and so did she.

"Hi Austin!" I said, crouching down so I was level with him. "Do you remember me?" I hadn't seen him since he was two or three years old. He shook his head. "I'm your cousin Bay. Would you two like to come inside?"

"Oh, no. I've got to be going now. Thank you for watching him. I'll see you next week." She hugged and kissed her son goodbye.

"Come inside, Austin. Have you eaten lunch yet?"

He shook his head. "Nuh-uh."

"Liam? Can you go make us all sandwiches while I help him get settled in?" He nodded and went into the kitchen. I grabbed Austin's hand and led him into the guest room. "Here we are! I got your bed all set up. Shall we unpack your suitcase?" He didn't answer me so I took it from his hand and placed his clothes in the dresser. I came across a box while unpacking his things. "Austin? What's this?"

"Battleship." He said, taking it from my hands and running out of the room. I quickly followed after him as he ran into the kitchen where Liam was making us grilled cheese. "Play with me?" He asked Liam. I smiled at them both, it was just too cute.

"I can't right now. I'm making lunch."

"Go ahead. I'll cook." He looked relieved to be let off the hook from cooking, but then again he didn't look that happy to be playing a game with a six year old. But I didn't want to let him mope around all day either.

I finished up the grilled cheeses and went to go get Liam and Austin. When I peered into the living room, they were sprawled out on the floor with game pieces all around them. Austin looked like he was having the time of his life, he had finally found a friend. Liam smiled down at him. It was the cutest thing ever. Both of them seemed pretty content so I left them to their game, eating alone in the kitchen until Austin burst through the door.

"I won I won I won!"

"Congratulations! Come celebrate with some grilled cheese!" He looked at me and then ran out of the kitchen. Liam and I followed after him as he went around to every door in the house and closed it shut.

"Austin! Stop!"

"Liam, relax. He can't control it." I said to him. Finally all the doors were closed and Austin ran back into the kitchen.

"Why didn't you tell us it was ready a while ago?"

"You two looked so happy playing, I couldn't."

* * *

The next few days with Austin were wonderful. He really seemed to keep Liam busy so he wouldn't think about Veronica. Although, there was one night where Austin had gotten angry and that made Liam mad. I had to keep Liam back and try to calm Austin down, even though the only person he wanted to talk to was Liam. But he couldn't understand that Liam had problems with his anger and that he could hurt him.

"Would you like cereal for breakfast this morning, Austin?" He nodded. I got out a bowl and spoon am poured him his favourite cereal before I realized we had to milk. "Liam? I have to go to the market and get some milk. Can you stay with Austin?" He didn't seem like he was in a good mood when he woke up, I was hesitant to ask.

"Sure." He said emotionlessly, the stone hard expression plastered on his face again, as it had been when we found out Veronica was killed. I felt bad for him, he had helped me so much with Austin--only leaving twice to go to work.

"Are you sure? I can take him with me."

"I said it's fine." He said in a stern tone. I threw my hands up and grabbed my purse and walked to the market, grabbed a jug of milk and walked back home. I entered the front door and saw Austin playing on the living room floor with his Legos, Liam no where in sight. I was puzzled, when I had left Liam was on the couch.

"Austin, where's Liam?"

"I dunno."

"Liam?? Where are you?" I said loudly. I walked into my room and saw a horrifying sight. Liam was laying motionless, his body half on my bed. His arms were slit up and down and bloody scissors sat next to him. I thought he was dead until I checked his pulse. It was slow and he was breathing slowly, but he was still alive. I heard Austin's feet pedal down the hallway.

"Austin....s-stay in the living room!" I said to him. I shakily picked up the phone and called for the ambulance. I couldn't believe that was happening.